Art By Louie H. Moreno

I’m a self-taught artist, I was influenced by my elementary school teacher, Frank Van Schaick. He took my classmates and me to many different Chumash places throughout Santa Barbara County, where I recorded my trips by drawing sketches of the places and the people. Since then, I have drawn many different portraits of Latina/os, Chicana/os, and indigenous people.

I have been involved with the Chicano Power Movement since the 1960’s with the Oxnard’s branch of the Brown Berets. Currently, I’m a political artist for the Committee On Raza Rights (CRR). My political artwork has been used for the Raza Youth Liberation Conference (1996), Chicano Moratorium Marcha (2000), Conference On Raza Prisoners And Colonialism (2001), and Conference On Raza Press, Media, And Popular Expression (2002) In 2003, I was honored with a “Raza Certificate Of Recognition” by the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project for my political artwork.

My artwork has been showed at the Ventura County Fair, the Channel Island National Park Visitor Center, the Dr. Rodolfo Acuña Gallery and Cultural Center, the De Colores Art Show, Oxnard Public Library, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Museum of Ventura County and Ventura County Government Center. My artwork was used for the cover of Occupied America, 5th Edition by Rodolfo Acuña.

I dedicate all my artwork to my mother Pearl E. Garcia, my wife Gloria, my sons Luis III and Jose, and my teacher Frank Van Schaick; especially my gente and the Chumash people.